Help With Student Loans - HERE!

Lokolo

best_gillybear wrote: »

Hi there,

From September I will have 2 students at full time uni and one going in to the 6th form. I know an allowance or deduction from our income is made for each child but can you tell me how much it is, before the income calculation for the maintenance grant is done.

Many thanks,
Gill

ps - why is info like this not available in the direct.gov site - bonkers!!!

Have your DS/DDs applied for student finance yet?

If not, I would worry about that before worrying about how much!

best_gillybear

By DS/DD do you mean my son and daughter because if so then yes. They've both had replies saying they have had their loans approved, but not their grants yet as we are giving further details and applying for current year income to be used.

I was just wondering really, as it costs twice as much with 2 at uni and I bet the Student loans company doesn't halve our income for calculation purposes.

Lokolo

best_gillybear wrote: »

By DS/DD do you mean my son and daughter because if so then yes. They've both had replies saying they have had their loans approved, but not their grants yet as we are giving further details and applying for current year income to be used.

I was just wondering really, as it costs twice as much with 2 at uni and I bet the Student loans company doesn't halve our income for calculation purposes.

I was worried for a second! Thought they hadn't applied.

DS = Dear Son
DD = Dear Daughter

They definitely don't use half. I don't believe there is a lot of difference.

ostrich_lady

Hi - here's another query about student finance!
My son (20) suspended his studies at Easter with the intention of resitting year 2 starting in September. The final part of his loan/grant was paid in before student finance were notified of the suspension. In mid April he received 2 letters. One regarding the grant notifying an overpayment of £467. The other, from the local authority, with a reassessment for 2009-2010 which reduced his loan by about £1800. We formulated a letter asking them to reconsider and explaining the circumstances and sending evidence ie. letters from the doctor and student counsellor. Today, I have logged on the website and they have sent another reassessment (not yet received in the post) which still shows he owes the grant back, but the loan amount has gone back to what it was originally - which is great. (as he doesn't have the money to pay back!)
However - it has become increasingly clear that he does not intend to return to university. Does anyone know whether this will affect the reassessment again? On the one hand, he was ill and they have evidence to that effect. But on the other hand, we said he was returning to continue his course in September and now he isn't. Do we have to tell the finance people at all, or can we just not apply for next year's finance? (Hasn't informed the uni yet either)
I am hoping that a year in the real world will make him think again about getting better qualifications. (At the moment I feel like wringing his neck! I got married in 1986 and the amount he owes for 2 wasted years was just about what my first house cost! Makes me feel sick!)

billywill

Taiko wrote: »

Were those into a private pension or employers?

Also, can I just confirm you were a 2008 starter, and hadn't done any degree level study previously?

An employers' pension.
Yep, started in 2008, no degree level study previously.

Oldernotwiser

ostrich_lady wrote: »

Hi - here's another query about student finance!
My son (20) suspended his studies at Easter with the intention of resitting year 2 starting in September. The final part of his loan/grant was paid in before student finance were notified of the suspension. In mid April he received 2 letters. One regarding the grant notifying an overpayment of £467. The other, from the local authority, with a reassessment for 2009-2010 which reduced his loan by about £1800. We formulated a letter asking them to reconsider and explaining the circumstances and sending evidence ie. letters from the doctor and student counsellor. Today, I have logged on the website and they have sent another reassessment (not yet received in the post) which still shows he owes the grant back, but the loan amount has gone back to what it was originally - which is great. (as he doesn't have the money to pay back!)
However - it has become increasingly clear that he does not intend to return to university. Does anyone know whether this will affect the reassessment again? On the one hand, he was ill and they have evidence to that effect. But on the other hand, we said he was returning to continue his course in September and now he isn't. Do we have to tell the finance people at all, or can we just not apply for next year's finance? (Hasn't informed the uni yet either)
I am hoping that a year in the real world will make him think again about getting better qualifications. (At the moment I feel like wringing his neck! I got married in 1986 and the amount he owes for 2 wasted years was just about what my first house cost! Makes me feel sick!)

Could I just suggest, with the best of intentions, that if you want him to get some experience of the real world that you let him sort all this out for himself. I'm sure you'll help him with it but it might make him more aware of his actions to have him doing the letter writing and research.

Taiko

Thanks billywill, if you can leave it with me, I'll post up at some stage Monday. First now, I've some drinking to do.

In response to ostrich_lady, it was your son's responsibility to notify student finance he'd left, not the university. As such, he's potentially in breach of contract. If he doesn't return to the course, he'll be asked for that loan amount back straight away, the bit that was previously cancelled down. The rest needs to be repaid in the normal way. He must inform student finance though, after all, he signed a contract saying he would. If he doesn't, they're likely to ask for repayment in full straight away. He is only entitled to funding for the period he was in attendance, regardless of the illness if he does withdraw.

akh43

Daughter was planning to go to Nottingham Trent for law, applied for student loan, received the letter back just over a week ago which needs signing and sending back.

She hasn't even sorted out accomodation there so no problem there, she took her time looking over the accommodation and at the moment most of the ones linked to NT seem to have gone.

Problem is she is now getting cold feet and is not sure this is the right university/course for her.

She seems, from what I can tell, to be on target grade wise (A's & B's) so I don't think that is the problem, but several friends aren't! I'm sure that isn't the only reason for cold feet but its probably a factor.

Can she change her university/course this far into the student loan process? How does she do this?

Can she still apply for other universities/courses?

She also mentioned yesterday taking a gap year - what happens to the loan she has applied for does she just not send the form back or does she need to do anything else?

Knowing very little about the whole process I think she needs to get advice on options of other universities/courses but who are the best people to advise her on this. Her college is all but finished for the year now except she has 3 more exams to do this month.

Thanks

Oldernotwiser

If she's chosen her university solely on the basis of her friends going there then it might be a good idea for her to reassess her priorities, either by withdrawing and going through Clearing or by taking a gap year and going in 2011.

hamk

I am studying on a 4 year degree course and receive the full loan and grant. I am currently in the third year (summer hols).

My mum just moved in with her partner this week. I have never lived with him. As I have already been assessed and approved for next year (proof of income was not even requested - was based on previous income assessment) and my mothers income has not changed... do I have to notify the student finance that she has moved in with her partner?